I strangely haven’t gotten sick of this new Sh*t people say video craze yet — maybe I’m just easily amused! I know it’s been a minute on here — I felt like my birthday was a good time to take a little break, but I promise to be back with a lot more goodies. Until then, you can sink your teeth into the latest video that popped up: Sh*t Baristas Say ;).

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My friends often ask me about my favorite brands, and I gladly rattle off on the topic. I experiment with so many things that I tend to stumble upon a lot of brands that are not always found on the shelves of Sephora or at your drugstore. One popular up-and-coming brand in particular I’ve been obsessing over in the past year is It Cosmetics (you may remember, I profiled founder Jamie Kern in a past Beauty on the Streets feature). It boggles my mind why more people don’t know about them yet!

Makeup from It Cosmetics

“IT” cosmetics stands for Innovative Technology Cosmetics. The company works with the top plastic surgeons to create high-performance makeup with anti-aging technology. I feel this is one of those small brand has been growing like crazy because the stuff they make is AMAZING. Last year, they won the prestigious Cosmetic Innovator of the year Award and I wouldn’t be surprised if they stacked up more. I met Jamie last year when I was first introduced to the brand, and since then, her makeup has remained some of my staples favorite staples, beginning with her Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-Aging Concealer.

Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer, $24

Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer

Normally, I’m not a huge fan of liquid concealer, but this one is rich in texture and (what I love) brightens at the same time. The color match (I use Tan) is amazing and a little goes a long way. I don’t really have a huge dark circle issue, but I like to use this just to lighten up around my eyes on occasion. (This comes with a retractable concealer brush for $26 on qvc.com).

Hello Lashes 5-in-1 Volumizing Mascara Duo, $30

I will fight for theirHello Lashes 5-in-1 Volumizing Mascara Duo. It’s truly one of the most unique brushes I’ve ever seen in a mascara (and trust me, I’m a mascara junkie). The tip reminds me of Givenchy’s Phenomen’Eyes, but I love this one way more because the rest of the brush gives you lift and volume. The tip also makes it easy to get into those itty bitty lashes. The formula is infused with a conditioning primer and lash-enhancing serum (yes longer lashes without mascara too yaay!). Not to mention, it’s free of parabens, fragrance, pthalate, and sulfates. Stuff you don’t want near your eyes anyway.

Luxe High Performance Eye Shadow Palette, $35

Their High Performance eyeshadow palette is serious stuff — the shadows have great color pay-off since they’re so highly pigmented. I think it’s a great inclusive palette as a basic set to create day time or smoky eyes. The brush it comes with is a dual liner/shadow brush that makes it super easy to apply them as eyeliner too. I played with it a bit myself ;).

Using It Cosmetics shadows, mascara, and concealer

Using It Cosmetics

I used their Cashmere (matte creme) all over first, then a little bit of Earth Angel (matte beige cashmere) on the lid, and a mix of Ipanema (golden beige pearl) and Espresso (matte deep brown) in the crease. Heavenly (pearl white) on the brow bone and Azure (midnight navy) as a liner. Finished off with their Hello Eyes mascara.

I can’t write a IT Cosmetics post without mentioning the wonders of their Brow Power pencil — it’s an award winning universal brow pencil that is so subtle but helps shape your browns so beautifully. One end is the brow pencil and the other is a brush:

Brow Power Universal Brow Pencil Duo, $32

AND finally, I JUST started experimenting with their Bye Bye Pores Micro-Finishing HD Powder. It’s definitely on par with a lot of top makeup brands as a traceless setting powder. It’s infused with silk and vitamins for a perfecting finish. If you’ve never tried it before, TODAY is the best time to look into it because for one day only, they’re giving their Complexion Perfection Anti-Aging Collection for less than half the price. That includes the basics: Their full coverage concealer, the Bye Bye Pores Silk HD Micro-Powder, their Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush and dual Airbrush foundation/Concealer brush — all for $50 (value $186):

Complexion Perfection 4-piece collection

Check out the whole collection at itcosmetics.com!
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*samples provided for review but these are my real opinions

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’ve embarked on a three-week cleanse that has totally turned my eating habits upside-down (in a good way). It focuses on eating a lot of non-processed, fresh veggies and fruits and cutting out other mostly-bad-for-you things (caffeine, dairy, etc.). The first week was rough — but I’ve slowly adapted and I’ve been feeling pretty amazing. I’ve had more energy, fitting into my jeans better, even my skin has been responding positively. In the past week I’ve had two people comment on its ‘glow’ (shucks!).

The hardest part I found has simply been A) finding time to do groceries and prepare my meals; B) when I’m short on time, finding places that will serve food that fit the parameters of the cleanse and still taste good. I’ve relied on Blue Dog for healthy, organic shakes some mornings, and anywhere I can get my hands on a salad. After working out with my friend Hamid last weekend, he took me to a cafe I probably would have never found on my own: JivamukTea Cafe. He tends to always show me some hidden gems in the city.

JivamukTea Cafe

The “hidden” cafe lives on the 2nd floor of the Jivamuktea Yoga School in Union Square (right smack in between Max Brenner and Cosi!). With no sign or indication of a cafe up there, you may very well pass right by it.

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The place is outfitted in beautiful magentas and turquoise walls, chandeliers and plush benches to sit on. They focus on serving completely organic/vegetarian/vegan/Non-GMO food. While all the wraps and sandwiches looked appetizing, Hamid and I deferred to the salads. Cute quirk: When you order, they give you a playing card, and when your order’s ready, they just call out your card (“Three of Spades!”).

Kale salad

Hamid made his own salad with kale, setain (a gluten-based food that sort of tastes like meat), qunioa and tumeric dressing. I got a ready made one with green apples, walnuts, beets, arugula, grape tomatoes, carrots, and a vinaigrette.

My salad!

The portions were pretty generous too! It took me a while to finish mine. So glad I have another place to add to the list of healthy restaurants!REPORT CARD
Meal: Dinner
Occasion: An excuse to get together
Price: $$
(Out of three stars)
Ambiance: *** It was…peaceful (as expected maybe)
Food: ***
Service: ***
Would I go back?: Yes!
Restaurant Info:JivamukTea Cafe
841 Broadway
2nd Fl,
btwn 13th & 14th St
New York NY10003
Union Square
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New York never ceases to amaze me with all their hidden gems. I find a lot of the smaller, homey places make some of the best food. Recently, I went to dinner with a few friends, and one of them introduced us to Banana Leaf, a Sri Lankan restaurant tucked away on 28th street. This was actually the first time I ever had the cuisine and had no idea what to expect. If YOU’VE never had it, let me prepare you: HOLY SPICE!

Inside Banana Leaf

Veggie and fish cutlets

Deviled Shrimp

Of course, there were a lot of similarities to Indian food, but so different in taste and seasonings. We started off small with the veggie and fish cutlets (don’t let them fool you, they’re spicy too!), and moved on to deviled shrimp. I’m not generally a fan of seafood, but I love shrimp and the chili-infused sauce was delicious.

The hoppers were totally new to me, but they are a Sri Lankan staple. They are wafer thin, bowl-shaped type crepes made with rice flour and coconut milk. The bottom is slightly spongey but the edges are more crispy. I ate them with the beef curry and some of the coconut sambol (a common side dish which give a nice zest to the meal). I’ve read that Sri Lankan food is inspired by several different ethnicities, blending indigenous ingredients and techniques with influences from Indian, Dutch, Malay etc. Everything had so much flavor!

Beef curry

Hoppers

Coconut sambol

But the reigning champion for me was the biryani. Unlike most biryani’s I’ve had, this one came with nuts, raisins, and a boiled egg in the middle. So much happiness in one dish.

Biryani

Biryani

By this time, you’re having heart burn, and the faluda (a mixed drink with syrup, ice cream, and basil seeds) is a must to cooldown.

Faluda

I totally want to check out more Sri Lankan restaurants after this — anyone have any favorites?

REPORT CARD
Meal: Dinner
Occasion: An excuse to get together
Price: $$
(Out of three stars)
Ambiance: * There’s nothing fancy about this place, and with no music playing when we went, it was a little too quiet
Food: ***
Service: **
Would I go back?: Yes, and I’ll be taking some Tums along with me.
Restaurant Info:Banana Leaf
227 W. 28th St.,
btw 7th and 8th Ave
New York, NY 10001
(212) 494-0000
Chelsea
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Sorry it’s been a little quiet here the past couple of days. I fell a bit sick last Friday and everything fell behind, but good news is I’m all better now…and better news, for all intents and purposes of this blog, is I found yet another fab salon in NYC, Medulla.

Medulla

My friend Ashley had told me about this salon a year ago (“a salon in a cool, tucked away loft space” or some such), and said I had to check it out. I thought it would be a small, contained room but Medulla is actually carved out of a penthouse floor of a 8-floor building. There’s no sign outside the building, and you may very well pass right by it. But when the elevator opens up to the floor, you’ll quickly realize it’s no ordinary salon — it’s also an art space and host to charity events. I was enamored as owner, Éle, gave me a short tour of the space. I’ve had it in the back of my mind to go back for a haircut, and since I had come to a point where hair was begging me to rid it of its split ends, I decided it was time.

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I was paired with stylist Chris, and couldn’t have been in better hands. Chris is a expert stylist, and like all of Medulla’s stylists, worked at some of best salons in NYC (Bumble and Bumble, Rita Hazan). He fixed up my layers and gave me the most insanely awesome cut/blowout in like 30 minutes. He even gave me tips on how to get the wispy look myself when I go home (two words: hot rollers).

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Haircuts run from $70-$120 for women (depending on if you get a junior or senior stylist), but I booked through Lifebooker which they should just re-name “LifeSaver” because I paid $43 instead (that included a $20 credit I had from before). All that’s left is to update my ombre hair (I’m saving that for Brooke at the Bird House!).

Oh and PS, the lipstick I’m wearing in the pics above is my new obsession: Clarins Rouge Prodige True Colour & Shine Lipstick in Rosewood ($24). I don’t even normally do lipstick, but this one keeps my lips moisturized and the color actually lasts. Adore.
Salon info:Medulla
36 East 20th Street,
btw Broadway and Park
8th Floor
New York, NY 10003
(917) 454-8283
Gramercy
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